Rebirth of the Godly Prodigal

“Boring…” Hearing Lin Hao tell him about James’ background, Hong Dali disdainfully twitched his mouth. “What has that got to do with me? Although I plan to make a few movies, I’m only doing it for fun. It’s not like I really plan to develop my business in Hollywood.”

“This…” Lin Hao felt a bit depressed. After thinking for half a day, he then said, “Then, Young Master, we can put it this way. The more friends you have, the more options you have in life. Think about it, what if next time you think that filming is very fun and really planned to expand your market? With just one word from James, your movies will be able to enter Hollywood. Those are all box office!”

He wasn’t overstating here. This James was indeed an authentic well-known director and had filmed a few big hits. His power in Hollywood was enormous.

If the movies from Heavenly State wished to be screened in Merika, all it needed was just one word from this James.

Of course, on the other hand, if he said that the movie was not good enough, then it was basically impossible for the movie to enter Hollywood.

“That doesn’t matter.” Hong Dali shrugged indifferently. He had never planned to develop into Hollywood, anyway. He had both the money and people he needed, and he was also unlike Liang Yifeng who flew all around the world to flirt with women. He entered the movie industry purely for the sake of having fun. Also, whether or not he was really going to make more films was still uncertain. Naturally, he didn’t regard this James as someone important.

What did it matter how powerful he was in his country. It’s not like he would give the money he earned to Hong Dali, and Hong Dali also didn’t need any help from him, so why the need to act so humbly towards him?

But the problem was, he was brought here by Lin Hao. As the saying goes, you can disregard someone, but you should slightly respect them if he were a friend of your friend. Hong Dali could totally disregard James, but he couldn’t totally disregard Lin Hao. He nodded and asked, “OK, then let me talk to him. Hm, I almost forgot to ask, what did you bring him here for? Investment?” That would be good because Hong Dali was still afraid that he was spending money too slowly…

“As for this, I wanted to ask you to put a share in. But as for how, I’m not too sure. I didn’t ask for the specific details.” Lin Hao saw that Hong Dali’s tone wasn’t as firm as before and finally felt relieved.

“Oh, I shall ask him then.” Hong Dali instantly walked up, smiled and asked, “Mr. James, right? What is it that you came to find me for today?” The translator hurriedly translated his words.

“… %¥… &&*&…” James said.

The translator translated at the same time. “Mr. James said that Mr. Lin should have told you who he is. He came today to borrow the alligator snapping turtle to act in his new film. Of course, it isn’t for free, he can give you 10% of the shares for the movie.”

What the heck! He actually came for this? Does this fellow even know what my Big Turtle represents?

And he still intends to borrow it? A yellow-haired monkey asking to borrow it just like that? 10% of the shares? Do you think I am a moron?

Hong Dali didn’t even think about it, he directly shook his head. “No!”

“This…” Hearing Hong Dali rejected so directly, the translator was a bit depressed. He didn’t know how he should translate this one. After thinking for a long while, he finally translated it to James in English.

“WHY!?” This time, Hong Dali understood this word. Of course, just this one word, the rest was still gibberish to him. “%¥%¥##*(&&)*)*)(*——)((”

“What is this dude saying now?” Hong Dali cocked his head and strangely looked at the translator.

“Er…” The translator felt that ever since he started being a translator for James, today was the hardest to translate. But out of professional ethics, he still chose to translate honestly. “Mr. James said that the alligator snapping turtle is just larger than normal, that’s all. They spent 2.2 million USD for this new film, it’s one of the largest blockbuster films in history. 10% of the shares is equivalent to two million plus yuan—this is practically money dropping from the sky. If Mr. Hong doesn’t agree, he suspects there’s something wrong with your… IQ.”

Indeed, from James’ perspective, he could obtain two million plus worth of shares by just shooting a few scenes, this was indeed akin to money dropping from the sky.

If it were some other animal, Hong Dali would have agreed since there weren’t any cons. It was just shooting for fun, it wasn’t something that really mattered to him.

However, if he wanted Big Turtle, it was definitely a no.

What image did Big Turtle have in the Nation now? The divine beast, the Black Tortoise! A totem-like sacred creature! It was fine for him to play with Big Turtle and bring it out for a walk because he was, after all, the one who helped turn it over. But allowing the Merikans to use it for their film? Two million? Even 20 million couldn’t get him to agree!

Once he really did such a thing, that would represent that Big Turtle had fallen from its God-like altar. By that time, the loss would definitely be much more than what he gained!

Suspect my IQ? There would be something wrong with my IQ if I really lent it to you!

“Ask if he understands the culture of our Nation. Does he know what Big Turtle represents?” By this time, Hong Dali couldn’t be bothered to pay any attention to this James anymore. However, because Lin Hao’s relationship with Hong Dali was not bad, he would just speak a few more words with him. If not, Hong Dali would have already thrown him out—he didn’t need to beg this fellow for anything, what was he so cocky for?

“OK.” The translator instantly communicated with James. Then, the translator said, “Mr. James said that he knows what Big Turtle represents. However, he also said that those are ridiculous matters. Big Turtle is just a big turtle, just a specially big one, it’s nothing much…” As the translator spoke to this point, he saw that Hong Dali’s expression wasn’t very good and hurriedly added, “Young Master Dali, I’m just a translator. I just translate whatever my boss says, please don’t blame me.”

Hearing him said so, Hong Dali was instead amused. He nodded and said, “Yup, don’t worry, I promise I will not make things difficult to you. Tell him, Hollywood is just a small place. To say it nicely, it’s the center of the filming industry. But to say it not so nicely, it’s just a small county town. I really don’t give any regards to it.”

When Hong Dali finished saying this, Tang Muxin instantly cheered and said, “Well said, Dali! That is really domineering, I support you! I give you 32 likes!”

Li Nianwei, Lin Zixuan, and the nine lackeys all raised their thumbs too.

The lackeys were thinking:

“Being Young Master’s subordinate, the treatment is indeed different! We won’t lose out no matter where we go!”

“Young Master is really a man of iron! Look at how he said it! The other party said that Big Turtle was just a normal alligator snapping turtle, and Young Master replied that Hollywood is just a small county town. This whack at the face is really awesome!”

The translator wanted to translate Hong Dali’s words into English, but suddenly, James pulled him aside and angrily walked up to Hong Dali, their foreheads so close that they were almost touching. James spoke with out of practice Chinese and angrily said, “Mr. Hong Dali, what do you mean by this!? Are you looking down on Hollywood? Hollywood is not only the place of origin of the entire world’s fashion, but it’s also the center of music and filming! We have world class entertainment estates and luxury brands there. We’re the frontier and representative of the entire world’s fashion!”

“Oh…” Hong Dali moved back a bit, turned around, looked at the translator, waved him over, grinned and said, “That who, translator, yes, you. Come here, come.”

“Me?” The translator pointed at his own nose, then hurriedly walked over. “Young Master Dali, please instruct me.”

“Yup, help me translate one sentence.” Hong Dali sniffled. “What has this got to do with this! Just this sentence!”

“This…” The translator broke out in a sweat, but he naturally didn’t dare to resist Hong Dali’s order. He hurriedly translated: “Mr. James, Young Master Dali said, I don’t care…”

Before he was done, Hong Dali directly pulled him aside. “You’re not imposing at all!” Saying so, Hong Dali turned around and asked Tang Muxin, “Xinxin, I want a direct translation, word by word!”

“OK!” Tang Muxin grinned and said, “Close My Bird Thing 1.”

“Yup.” Then, he turned towards James and, word by word, said, “Close my bird thing!” In the end, he didn’t forget to add, “UNDERSTAND?”

“You! Do you know that you are making the whole Hollywood your enemy!?” James angrily said, “Over there, everyone has to respect me. Even those film magnates don’t dare to speak to me like this! Even the honorary mayor of Hollywood has to show respect to me! We have a deep foundation and heritage in fashion and strong technologies to support us. We’re the role model that everyone around the world sought to copy from. A lot of celebrities in your country wish to be able to advance to Hollywood even if they have to bribe us!”

“Oh, I’m really afraid by hearing what you said!” Hong Dali cheekily said. “But what has that got to do with me? I said that I’m not lending, no means no. Translator, translate my words to him!”

“This…” The translator was really depressed today. He could only start translating to James. Again, gibberish to Hong Dali. “¥%¥…&%(*)(**——)——”

Tang Muxin and the rest almost died from laughter. This Hong Dali could really pull off a spoof. At the start, this fellow brought a translator here, but just after a few words, this James started speaking Chinese. Instead, Hong Dali didn’t let the translator rest but asked him to translate his words to English and return it to him…

Actually, speaking of which, everyone present didn’t have any good impression of this James. All of them disliked him.

Since you are able to speak Chinese, what’s the point of bringing a translator and putting up a front for? What use is there? To show how noble you are? Our Young Master’s background is very impressive, but he never acted as you did!

“You’re making the entire Hollywood your enemy!” James gritted his teeth and said, “I promise! From now on, any movie related to you will never be able to enter Merika! Not possible!”

“Oh, actually, I have some words for you too.” Hong Dali grinned and said, “Don’t put up a front, or lightning will strike you.” After saying this, Hong Dali sniffled and added, “Also… Who set the rule that Hollywood must be in Merika?”

Footnotes:

A literal translation of ‘How is this my problem’